From Servals to Pythons: The Exotic Pets Quiz

Lots of people have cats and dogs, but a few adventurous pet owners crave something a little less common. Do you prefer a raccoon to a retriever or a squirrel to a Siamese cat? If so, test your knowledge with this quiz.

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Question 1 of 30

The Tamandua tetradactyla is sometimes kept as an exotic pet. What is the common name of this animal?

armadillo

acouchi

anteater

The common name of this pet is the anteater — specifically the lesser anteater. The lesser anteater is a native of South America and is legal to own in most areas of the U.S.

Question 2 of 30

Which exotic pet is native to central and western Africa and can live up to 30 years?

badger

ball python

Ball pythons grow 3-5 feet (91-152 centimeters) in length and can live for 30 years.

brown capuchin

Question 3 of 30

This exotic pet will NOT thrive in temperatures over 78 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius) or in humidity over 40 percent.

chinchillas

Chinchillas are native to the Andes mountains of South America.

cockatoo

chameleon

Question 4 of 30

True or false: The overpopulation of captive bred or exotic pet desert tortoises is managed by releasing them back into the wild.

true

false

The captive bred or pet desert tortoises cannot be returned to the wild because many are hybrids. Not only would these turtles compromise the genetics of wild populations, but they also introduce a high risk of spreading disease to wild desert tortoises.

Question 5 of 30

Which exotic pet can live up to 100 years?

eastern box turtle

Eastern box turtles are popular exotic pets because they are docile and can be legally kept in most states. Some states, however, may require a permit to keep an eastern box turtle as a pet.

eastern boa constrictor

eastern cotton tail rabbit

Question 6 of 30

Which exotic pet has the Latin name Mustela putorius furo, which translates to "smelly little thief"?

fox

finch

ferret

The ferret has this unfortunate name.

Question 7 of 30

Which exotic pet can shed its tail if grabbed by a predator?

gerbil

gecko

Usually, the gecko will grow a new tail after it sheds an old one.

guinea pig

Question 8 of 30

Which exotic pet is covered with roughly 7,000 quills?

hedgehog

The quills on a hedgehog help protect against snake bites and are often used to injure or kill snakes.

hamster

honey badger

Question 9 of 30

This popular exotic pet excretes excess saline through its nostrils.

indri

ibis

iguana

Iguanas excrete saline through their nostrils to regulate salt levels in the body. Iguanas, which start out small, are believed to be one of the most popular reptile pets in the United States. However, because iguanas can grow up to 6 feet (2 meters) in length, they can eventually become troublesome for some pet owners.

Question 10 of 30

Which rare exotic pet was once a mascot for British military forces?

jumping spider

jerboa

The jerboa is a rare exotic pet and was the mascot for Britain's 7th Armored Brigade, aka the "Desert Rats," during World War II.

jumping mouse

Question 11 of 30

Which exotic pet is nicknamed the "honey bear"?

koala

kaffir cat

kinkajou

The scientific name of the kinkajou is Potos flavus.

Question 12 of 30

Which animal is kept as an exotic pet in parts of Asia but is illegal in the U.S.?

loris

The loris is a primate related to the lemurs of Madagascar; some of the characters in DreamWorks' 2005 animated film, "Madagascar," closely resemble the loris.

llama

least chipmunk

Question 13 of 30

Which exotic pet lays 100 eggs or more in its nest?

macaw

millipedes

Millipede females build a nest on the ground and lay 100 eggs or more in the nest. Millipede hatchlings will emerge from their eggs in approximately one month, which can take pet owners from one pet to hundreds in the span of mere weeks.

monitor lizard

Question 14 of 30

Newts are often kept as exotic pets. Which animal class do newts belong to?

amphibian

The word amphibian comes from the Greek word "amphibios," which translates to "a double life." This name is fitting because amphibians spend part of their lives in the water and part on land.

reptile

fish

Question 15 of 30

Which of the following exotic pets is an invertebrate?

opossum

ostrich

octopus

Octopuses are invertebrates, a classification that refers to animals without a backbone. Both opossums and ostriches are vertebrates.

Question 16 of 30

True or false: Potbellied pigs, which are occasionally kept as exotic pets, are susceptible to sunburn.

true

The skin of all pigs has very little hair and is therefore sensitive to the sun. Potbellied pig, like their larger cousins, wallow in mud not only to stay cool, but also to protect their skin against damage from the sun.

false

Question 17 of 30

Which exotic pet is native to the grasslands and open woodlands of North America?

quokka

quetzal

quail

The bobwhite quail is native to these areas.

Question 18 of 30

For which exotic pet is a male called a buck and a female called a doe?

raccoons

rabbits

This is true for rabbits. Males and females of raccoons and red squirrels are called boars and sows, respectively.

red squirrels

Question 19 of 30

Which of the following exotic pets is a marsupial?

sugar glider

Sugar gliders are marsupials. Marsupials are mammals that give birth to immature young and carry them in pouches.

skink

Smith's bush squirrel

Question 20 of 30

Many species of tarantula are kept as exotic pets, so what type of diet do the spiders have?

herbivore

omnivore

carnivore

Tarantulas are carnivores. Most tarantulas eat insects, such as beetles and grasshoppers, but some larger species will even eat frogs, lizards and small birds.

Question 21 of 30

Which exotic pet is native to the northern Sahara Desert?

Uinta ground squirrel

Uromastyx lizard

The Uromastyx, or spiny-tailed lizard, is native to the northern Sahara Desert. These lizards can tolerate high temperatures and have been known to bask in temperatures up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius).

uakari monkey

Question 22 of 30

Which exotic pet has the scientific name Lagostomus maximus?

viscacha

The plains viscacha is the common name for the Lagostomus maximus. The plains viscacha lives in the grasslands of South America and matures to 18 pounds (8 kilograms).

vervet monkey

vole

Question 23 of 30

The newborn babies of this exotic pet are the size of a jelly bean.

woodchuck

wallaby

The newborn babies of the Bennett's wallaby are the size of a jelly bean. Wallabies are marsupials, so mothers carry these tiny babies in pouches until they are much more developed.

wapiti

Question 24 of 30

Which of these exotic pets require an aquarium?

xantus

Xerus

X-ray tetras

X-Ray tetras are native to the Amazon River and therefore require an aquarium. Bones, organs and eggs can be seen through a translucent skin that covers the fish.

Question 25 of 30

Which exotic pet is featured as the character Zazu in the movie "The Lion King"?

yellow-billed hornbill

Yellow-billed hornbills are favored by enthusiasts because they are smaller and easier to handle than other varieties.

yellow-headed caracara

yellow-billed stork

Question 26 of 30

Which exotic pet often is used in medical research?

zebra fish

Mutations that disrupt embryonic development have been isolated in zebra fish and can serve as models for gaining a greater understanding of human diseases.

zorilla

zebra finch

Question 27 of 30

The females of which exotic pet develop eggs inside their bodies but give birth to live young?

bluebird

bullfrogs

boa constrictors

Female boa constrictors develop eggs inside their bodies and then give birth to live young. Animals that produce and retain eggs internally and then give birth to live offspring are called ovoviviparous.

Question 28 of 30

Which activity cycle do hamsters follow?

nocturnal

crepuscular

Crepuscular animals are most active at dawn and dusk; they are neither nocturnal nor diurnal.

diurnal

Question 29 of 30

True or false: Fainting goats do not actually lose consciousness.

true

Fainting goats have a genetic muscular condition and do not actually lose consciousness. The genetic disorder is called myotonia congenita. When fainting goats are startled, their muscles suddenly and vigorously contract, causing them to fall over. Their contracted muscles then relax very slowly, giving the appearance that the goats fainted and are regaining consciousness.

false

Question 30 of 30

This exotic pet can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour) in the wild.

sand lizard

skunk

serval

The serval is the second fastest of all cats — only the cheetah is faster.